Chess Puzzle #7awpl — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e6; rook f7; knight f6; pawn h3. Black: king h6; rooks e2/e3; pawns a6/b7/c7/e5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ra3 — rook e3→a3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: h4 — pawn h3→h4. Opponent replies g5 (pawn g6→g5).
3. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook f7→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg6 (king h6→g6).
4. Best move: h5# — pawn h4→h5, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, long, mate, mate in 3, quiet move. The combination ends with h5# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 8/1pp2R1p/p3KNpk/4p3/8/4r2P/4r3/8 b - - 5 42

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